JOSEPHDeborah Gayle, 53, peacefully passed away on August 4, 2008 following a brief illness. She was born on October 18, 1954 in Coweta, OK to Dixie June (Elkins) and Dale Boyd Darnell. She graduated from Muskogee High School and ran her own pre-school in Columbia, Missouri for several years before returning to Muskogee and obtaining first her Associate Degree in early childhood education and then her teaching credentials upon graduating from Northeastern State University with a degree in the same field. She was not a full-time student, however, as she continued her daycare business in Muskogee until she finished her education. In keeping with Deborah's unpredictable spirit throughout her life, she soon began her career teaching not young children, but rather adults, first in the Muskogee Public Schools system and later with NSU. At the time of her death she was the Adult Education Coordinator of the Muskogee Adult Learning Center at NSU-Muskogee, with a second office at Cherokee elementary School. Know for her antic humor and love of children, especially infants like her grandbaby Sam Hulcher, who she dearly adored the last 10 months of her life, Deborah's zest for living, lively intellect, and friendly embrace of all who knew her-and many who didn't served her well throughout a life dedicated to the teaching and betterment of others. Many are the adults she assisted in obtaining their GED who can attest to the fact she believed in them when they didn't believe in themselves, paving the way for their entry onto a successful path in their lives. Deborah is survived by her daughter Anna Hulcher, and Tony and Sam Hulcher of Tulsa, and Dylan Hulcher of Cement, OK; daughter Cassandra Joseph and companion Neil Kincaid of Muskogee, longtime life companion Roger Ramos of Muskogee; her parents, Dale and June Darnell, of Muskogee; brother Kenny Darnell and wife Lang of Spring Valley, CA; their daughters Linh, Leslie, Leann and Lena and their combined nine children; brother Matthew Darnell of Muskogee and child Dustin. Deborah was preceded in death by brothers Curtis, Denny, and Ricky and is survived by Curtis' child Krystina (and her child Jaidyn Kay), Denny's child Karen Denise; and Ricky's children Brandy (and her children Brittany, Kevin and Jalen), Ricky, Jimmy (and his child Dixie June), Damien (and his child Brianna), Jessica, Kelly (and her children Daniel and Michael) and Durgan. Also making up this large and spread out family are aunts, uncles and cousins too numerous to mention. Also surviving Deborah's untimely death are close friends Polly Wark and Joe Cox and their children Kate and Austin of Houston, TX; Debbie Carr and Melanie Harnick of Hawaii; all of her wonderful students, past and present, and her esteemed and valued colleagues at Cherokee Elementary and NSU. Deborah was also preceded in death by her maternal grandmother Monie Elkins, whom Deborah adored as a child and young adult until Monie's passing. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to NSU-Muskogee, P.O. Box 549, Muskogee, OK 74402-0549, which is creating a scholarship named in her honor. Please designate your bequests for this purpose. Friends and family may call at Mallett Funeral Home in Wagoner from 10 AM to 7 PM on Wednesday for viewing. Services will be at ten o'clock Thursday, August 7, 2008 at Greenwood Cemetery in Porter, OK, followed by a reception at NSU-Muskogee, Shawnee Bypass and 24th Street. In order to properly celebrate Deborah's ebullient and buoyant nature, the family request that all attending feel comfortable wearing informal attire; i.e. jeans if you so desire. Deborah would have loved that!